If you’re into any type of sexual play that involves toys or special things to wear (e.g. bondage gear) you know how great those things can be. They can add to sensations and make the experience even more mind-blowing overall, so why not make sure you get the best use out of them you can? To do that, they have to be well maintained. Whether you’re a very clean germ-fearing person who always cleans up their messes or someone who’s content to let it wait until later, it’s always important to make sure you keep your sex toys clean and stored in a safe place. It isn’t a good idea if they’re shoved in a pile under the bed in a makeshift storage container and it isn’t good if they’re hidden in the bathroom haphazardly either. Taking the proper care of your bondage gear and sex toys is not only going to prevent the possibility of infections for any partners using them; it’s also going to extend the life of them. A poorly maintained toy is not only disgusting to deal with, it can also be dangerous.

Prevents Infections

“Pack your sex toys properly after use”

Cleaning your toys and any gear you wore or used after every encounter is of the utmost important because it removes any bacteria. Yes, you might not make a huge mess, but sex is sex. It’s dirty and bodily fluids are going to end up places on your gear or toys that you might not even have expected. If you’re using leather gear you’re in luck, because leather is much easier to clean than cloth or latex. It usually just requires a quick wipe-down from an antibacterial wipe and once it’s dried off, it can be put away into the closet or chest where you store it.

Sex toys need to be cleaned well with warm, soapy water to make sure that any bacteria is removed from them. If you have multiple partners involved in your scenes, cleaning is especially important. Though you shouldn’t share toys in most cases, if they’re stored in the same location, keeping them clean is necessary so there isn’t a transfer.

Makes Toys and Gear Last Longer

No matter how well they’re made, repetitive use of a sex toy or a particular piece of bondage gear is eventually going to wear it out. It’s a simple fact of life, and the reason why most of those items are recommended to be replaced after a year or sometimes sooner. Keeping your gear and toys clean and stored in a safe place is going to make them have a much longer useful lifespan for you.

Good places to store gear and toys don’t put too much stress on them, so that means no unnecessary bending and no excessively damp or excessively dry storage conditions. Make sure to never put away toys or gear while they’re still wet from being cleaned, or worse, still dirty. It can ruin some materials and cause condensation to build up, and when couple with a warm storage area that can breed bacteria more than anything else.